The 2007 NBA Draft has the chance to produce blockbuster deals, franchise-saving selections, and second round steals.  Every year, fans sift their way through various throngs of bogus media reports regarding their favorite teams and players, especially on the eve of the Draft with a draft class that could potentially rival the 1996 and 2003 classes as one of the best all-time.  With a Green Room slate that includes fifteen of the hottest names in current draft conversations, we decided what better way to inform our RealGM readers what the players were thinking than by talking directly to these superstars of tomorrow.  Andrew Perna and I were in attendance at Media Day 2007, and the highly-touted guest list did not disappoint.  

The Big Question floating around Media Availability Day was still whether Portland is planning on taking Greg Oden or Kevin Durant.  Despite reports that Oden to Portland is a sure thing, things aren?t always what they seem.  Many have suggested that Durant?s Portland workout was superior to that of Oden?s or that Oden?s wrist and back problems are also on the radar as being reasons for Kevin Pritchard and the Blazers to pass on the Big Fella.  On the flip side, much was read into the fact that Kevin Durant supposedly wasn?t able to bench press 185-pounds.  There were too many faulty facades to determine which reason could potentially alter the fate of the first selection.  

Talking with Georgetown standout Jeff Green, who had a very impressive bench press workout with seventeen repetitions at 185-pounds, indicated what he thought about the speculation that Durant was not number-one worthy because of his zero-rep performance, ?People started to downplay him after that, which I feel was the wrong thing to do because the guy is not only the future of the conference, but the future of the NBA.  You can?t judge a person on what they can bench press, so I disagree with what they said about him and his [Draft] stock.?

Going directly to the source, I asked Kevin Durant about the importance of being the first overall selection: ?I would like to go number-one, it?d be great to go number-one, but number-one or number-two, I can?t complain.?  

When asked about his combatant for the top spot, Durant even endorsed the Big Guy, stating ?Oden is a game-changer; you don?t have to be a great scorer to change the game.?

Trying to get a comment from the other side of the story, I ran into an anonymous reporter who had already targeted Oden for first-pick interrogation.  The unknown reporter asked him, ?If drafted number-one, do you guarantee that you will be better than Michael Olowakandi??  
As shocked as me and the other digital recorder-holding media members surrounding the seven-foot gentile-giant, Oden laughed, looked at the guy with his stoic face, and said ?What!??

Outside of the Who?s Number One? Debate, there were many other storylines floating around the Westin Times Square in New York City.  When asked about the entirety of this draft class, Oden had a typical playful response, ?Jeff Green, Mike Conley, Kevin Durant ? They are all great guys, great players, but I don?t know about that other dude, Greg Oden, he's okay??

With a glut of talent across the board, it appeared most teams may be focusing to fill specific needs, rather than take the best athlete available.  Kansas star Julian Wright agreed, telling me ?This draft is more about needs, team needs, not just talent.  So if I slip to seven or slip to twelve, and that?s where they need me and feel like I can be of use to them, then that?s fine.  It?s not about telling my kids about being this pick or that pick, I just want to be successful wherever I go, and hopefully be a good pick for that team.?

Peering around the room thinking about explicit team needs, one that stuck out at me, no pun intended, was the need for a slashing scoring combo guard for the Detroit Pistons.  Rodney Stuckey was the surprise of the Green Room and the chairs at his table were notably empty for being on the verge of national stardom.  One of the more personable guys in the room, he was calm, prepared, and seemed to be enjoying every moment given to him in the spotlight.  Speculation has the Detroit Pistons targeting him with the fifteenth pick, hence his invitation into the Green Room.  However, recent reports suggest he could end up in Seattle if the Sonics decide to pull the trigger on the rumored Luke Ridnour to Atlanta for the 11th pick deal.  I asked him if he could comment on his potential selection by Detroit: ?Detroit is a really good organization that I would like to go to.  The group of guys they have there, they work hard, they?ve been to the Eastern Conference Finals the last five years, and that?s the type of team I want to go to.  I want to go to a team that?s going to win.?

Most of the guys were just happy to be there.  Acie Law IV was one of my favorite guys to talk with and be around during this extraordinary event.  He came across as a guy ready to take on the next step with unmatched passion and desire for success.  When asked if he was excited to be at the 2007 NBA Draft, he shared a personal anecdote, ?Since I was a kid, I always wanted that opportunity to walk across that stage and shake the Commissioner?s hand.  I remember as a child just acting like I was walking across and putting fitted hats on my head and my mom saying my name.  This is something that we've really been looking forward to and we're just blessed that I have the opportunity to go through with it.?

Another historic story would be the possibility of the back-to-back national champion Florida Gators being represented by three picks in the top ten of the Draft.  When speaking with Corey Brewer, he told me, ?I don?t know how many times that has happened, three guys in the top ten [from the same school], but that?d be great.  If it happens, we'd be making history, and that?s what Gators do.?  

All of the talk and attention the top three Gators have been getting these past couple of weeks have further accentuated the fact that the point guard is like the offensive lineman of basketball ? the position that gets less attention than deserved.  Florida point guard Taureen Green is another first round hopeful who controlled the Gator squad and led their ascent to sequential titles.  

His stock has slowly improved over the past weeks, and I asked his main man on the block, Al Horford, what he thought about the little point guard?s chances and shot-making abilities:  ?We already know Taureen is playing well and just tearing up all the workouts he's been doing.  That?s what I?m hearing from everyone.  He's helped himself a lot to put himself into a situation to be a first round pick, there?s no question about that.  To me, I really wish that people realize how great of a person he is and how great of a player he is, and I don?t think there?s a better shooter in this draft.?

As usual, Noah had the crowd laughing with his childish excitement, humorous remarks and eccentric antics.  He mentioned that he was getting a ?crispy shapeup? for his hair and told us to be excited about his suit.  When discussing his past, he revealed that he ?lived ten years in France, but then moved over New York City in seventh grade?, where he enjoyed most of his growth as a player and a man.  Asked how his New York upbringing would impact his draft celebration here in The City That Never Sleeps, he said, ?I'm from Hell?s Kitchen, Hell?s Kitchen is like twenty blocks away from here.  After the draft is over I?ll be on 51st Street, right on my block, all of my people will be waiting for me, its crazy ? I live twenty blocks from here, I can walk home after the draft!!?

And regarding the constant murmur of trade talk, draft rumors, and inside information being passed around, no one really knows how the 2007 NBA Draft will take shape.  But, as Al Horford indicated to the hordes of media surrounding him, ?A lot can happen, there?s still thirty-something hours left till the draft!?  Well, those thirty hours are quickly approaching zero.

How excited are you for the NBA Draft?  What do you expect to happen?  Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts.  He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments or questions.